Chapter 27

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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Gifts and Toys
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“Yes… And you, miss?”

But the lady even took off her gloves and hugged me tightly.

“I've been well. I'm so glad. I missed you so much, Aika. Thank you for coming back...”

She then gently patted my back.

Tears were welling up in her eyes as I looked at her again.

The flower shop lady exchanged a few words with Zenda before taking my hand again.

“Let me show you the flowers.”

“Okay! I'm giving them to three people tomorrow. They have to be super pretty. And I have someone to give a flower to today, too—my uncle! Oh, and Gerard needs one. And Zenda!”

“I'm quite all right, my lady.”

“Haha, a gift for your uncle? Alright, I understand. I'll help you pick the freshest, prettiest flowers.”

A while later, I was holding the flowers for my uncle and Gerard, while Zenda held the single flower I'd picked for her and the other bouquets for tomorrow.

Then the lady offered me a single rose.

“This one is for you, Aika. Come visit again soon, Aika.”

“Thank you!”

I bowed deeply and hurried out to find my uncle.

In the distance, I could see a tall figure standing with his hands in his pockets.

My uncle was talking about something with Gerard, who had appeared at some point.

I ran over quickly.

“Are those them?”

“Yep! Uncle, this is yours!”

I thrust the biggest sunflower at him.

It was the largest one in the shop.

“What. Am I supposed to eat it?”

“Nooo! It's a present for you, you can't eat it. You can put it next to you when you work.”

My uncle took the flower with a look of indifference.

“It's my money anyway.”

“...”

I had nothing to say to that, but I puffed out my cheeks and glared at him to show my displeasure.

He really knows how to say the meanest things.

Then he simply lifted me into his arms.

I quickly held out the other flower to Gerard.

“Such a temper. Can we go now?”

“Yep!”

“Good thinking, Peanut.”

“I told you I'm not a peanut!”

“Then grow taller if you don't like it.”

Finding him annoying, I timidly tugged on his hair as he strode toward the carriage.

Though it didn't seem to faze him at all!

* * *

The next day.

I had asked Zenda the day before to wake me up two hours early.

It was finally the day I had promised to meet Ruspe at the imperial palace.

After breakfast, I hurried to get ready to go straight to the palace.

I had the flower for Ruspe.

I had the flower for Grandfather.

I had the flower for His Majesty the Emperor.

I had candy and a handkerchief, too.

And I have to ask Uncle to bring the key.

“Oh, Zenda.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“What happened to the lady who came yesterday? Did she leave okay?”

Come to think of it, no one was at the main gate when we returned.

“Yes, it seems so. It was nothing important, so please don't worry about it.”

“It wasn't anything bad, was it? That lady was at the banquet yesterday, right? Her voice sounded familiar.”

I confessed what I knew.

I'd already been scolded for everything else, anyway!

Zenda's eyes widened.

“You remember that?”

“Yeah. If I'd gone with you, I would have seen her face, too.”

“Hmm... I believe she was one of the people you saw, my lady.”

I whipped my head around.

“Why? Why did she come?”

“Umm... It's difficult to say...”

“Tell me!”

Zenda reluctantly began to speak.

“Those ladies made a grave mistake toward you, my lady.”

“Umm... It was okay, though.”

“It most certainly was not. That is why House Valliat and House Leguire have banned the members of those four families from all the shops and stores they operate.”

“Why...?”

“Because they did wrong. I heard that the family of the lady who visited yesterday was among them.”

For the young ladies eligible to attend banquets in the capital, the shops owned by your uncle and grandfather are where they all scramble to order their dresses.

Their accessories and shoes are the most popular as well.

“Is it that big of a deal?”

Big enough to come all the way to our house?

“For any young lady sensitive to trends, they would pay a premium just to get a reservation. But now, they've been barred from even entering the shops.”

“...”

“Furthermore, I heard that any business even slightly connected to the four families, including House Green, has been completely withdrawn. Their cash flow has not only been cut off, but they may even fall into debt if this continues.”

“Really?”

“Yes. That is likely why she came to beg for forgiveness. It is why people fear the Valliats.”

No way, did it really get that serious?

“Because of me...?”

Zenda added in response to my question.

“No, they are paying a fair price for their own wrongdoing. It is not your fault, my lady. So please, do not trouble yourself over it.”

“But what if everyone starts to hate us and avoid us?”

“On the contrary, there is a line of families eager to fill the newly vacant spots and do business with us, so you have no need to worry.”

“How do you know all that, Zenda?”

“I heard it from Gerard yesterday.”

“...”

“Take this chance to learn. Learn how to dispose of trash.”

My uncle's quiet words suddenly echoed in my ears.

How to dispose of trash...

I wasn't sure if I understood it all, and it seemed scary, but I decided to remember what my uncle said.

It might be a way to protect Grandfather and my family.

And.

And...

And!

“Woooow!”

After breakfast, Zenda led me to a room where all the toys and dolls I'd seen at the toy store yesterday had been moved.

“Zenda, look at this!”

“Hehe, are you that happy?”

“Yes! They're all brand new!”

I plopped down right in the middle and looked all around.

Everything was really here.

Every single thing I'd laid eyes on in the toy store yesterday.

“...”

No.

Just one thing.

Except for the doll I had chosen.

I searched frantically through the mountain of toys, but the doll I picked wasn't there.

“...The doll.”

Why isn't it here? Everything else I saw yesterday is here.

I trusted my uncle.

I guess he's not someone you can trust after all.

This won't do.

I'll have to send a letter to Grandfather and ask him to buy me that doll.

Unable to hide my disappointment, I slumped my shoulders and looked at Zenda.

Zenda suddenly burst out laughing.

“Zenda, why...?”

How can you laugh? I'm so disappointed!

It's nice, but something's missing.

Strangely, out of all those toys, that was the one I was drawn to.

Not a puppy or a polar bear, but a chubby, white-furred doll with black eyes.

It had no other decorations, just a metal button dangling from its neck like my name tag!

And on that button was a picture of a large claw, like a tiger's.

“Why don't you go see the master?”

“My uncle?”

“Yes, perhaps he knows where the doll is.”

“Huh.”

At her words, I shot up and went to find my uncle.

I really did trust my uncle.

He was the only one I could trust.

Hearing he was on the first floor, I dashed down the stairs.

My uncle was sitting leisurely on a sofa in the first-floor hall.

Holding the very doll I wanted so badly.

I rushed over to him, out of breath, and stretched out my hands.

“Uncle, give it to me!”

But he suddenly raised the hand holding the doll.

Then he gave me a sly grin.

“Come and get it.”

“...”

As if I can't get it just because he said so!

I started climbing his rock-hard thigh as if it were a mountain.

“Ugh,” he let out a short, pained grunt.

“Hey, you think your uncle's a stepping stone? Is it okay to just climb all over me like that?”

At the same time, I grabbed the doll.

Oh, I got it.

Thankfully, it came into my hands so easily I barely had to pull.

“Heehee.”

“You like it that much?”

“Yeah, I love it more than anything in the world.”

Hugging the doll to my chest, I was filled with overwhelming satisfaction.

Yes, this was it!

“Alright, now get down.”

“Okay!”

As I tried to get my balance to get back on the floor, I grabbed onto my uncle's clothes as if to tear them, and for a moment, my body swayed.

“Be a little more careful.”

A firm hand touched my back.

It was then.

“Ah.”

It's happening again.

Against my will, my vision blurred.

Not in front of my uncle!

It had been quiet for a few days, but I could never get used to this, no matter how many times it happened.

It had been so peaceful for the past few days!

Mom said it was our little secret, but this was never my choice.

What can I do when my vision changes on its own?

Mom never told me about this. No, she couldn't have.

What am I supposed to do when this happens?

That's why I was scared of having this ability.

What if I can never escape from this vision?

The only possibility right now is to go to the archives using the key Mom gave me.

Mom said I would be able to see it.

Though that might just be my own thought.

“Peanut, hey, Aika...”

My uncle called my name, but his voice sounded faint and far away.